Question

In barley stem, vascular bundles are

• A. open and scattered
• B. closed and scattered
• C. closed and radial
• D. open and in a ring

Answer 1

The correct option is B closed and scattered

Barley is a member of the grass family and is a monocot. Monocots have closed vascular bundles as cambium is not present in between the xylem and phloem. Also, the vascular bundles are scattered throughout the stem instead of being arranged in the rings. Hence, this is the reason why the monocots cannot form the annual rings as seen in dicot stems.

There are two types of vascular bundles based on the arrangement of xylem and phloem - radial vascular bundle and conjoint vascular bundle.

When xylem and phloem within a vascular bundle are arranged in an alternate manner along different radii, the arrangement is known as radial vascular bundle. It is found in roots.

When the xylem and phloem together are along the same radius of vascular bundles, the arrangement is known as conjoint vascular bundle. It is found in stems and leaves. The conjoint vascular bundle can be open or closed based on the presence or absence of cambium.